Cherry Blossom Hunt NYC

May 06, 2017 by Patricia Chang in Family, Fashion, Travel

I've always loved Cherry Blossoms. They truly make me happy and I think a tree absolutely covered in flowers is simply stunning. My husband and I have gone to D.C. to see them, and perhaps we will find ourselves in Japan one day. But my obsession with hunting down Cherry Blossoms in NYC began in 2014 when Chase was born. He was born mid April aka the peak of Cherry Blossom season~ I had a complicated delivery which kept me on bed rest for a month. Hence, missing out on any Cherry Blossom sightings. This was the start of my FOMO for Cherry Blossoms! They bloom for what feels like a second. I have gone back to many spots the NEXT DAY and all the petals were blown away~ or brown on the floor.. This year I made it my mission to catch every glorious moment up to post bloom. I'm going to share with you my finds because timing these trees can be frustrating!

Let's do this chronologically - here are my photos from the past few years. Here we go!:

White Blossoms:

As early as March 15, 2016 - Cooper Union — As early as March 15, 2016 - Cooper Union

Central Park:

April 28, 2015 - Upper West Side around 85th street

April 11, 2017 - Sheep's Meadow North West Corner

April 9, 2017 - South West Entrance by Columbus Circle

April 18, 2015 - South West Entrance by Columbus Circle

April 14, 2017 - West 72nd st by the Lake, Cherry Hill

April 14, 2017 - West 72nd st by the Lake

Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park:

East Village:

April 22, 2016 - 17th st & 2nd avenue Park

Washington Square Park:

Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival - last weekend of April

Note: No picnic mats or food allowed. It is very crowded during the festival and $30 versus the usual $15. Free on Tuesdays and 10~noon on Saturdays.

Central Park:

Brooklyn Botanic Garden: Again, No picnic mats or food allowed. It is very crowded during the festival and $30 versus the usual $15. Free on Tuesdays and 10~noon on Saturdays.

Central Park:

May 4, 2017 - 76th st by The Loeb Boathouse, East Dr

May 16, 2014 - 72nd st Terrace Drive west of Bethesda Terrace

Madison Square Park:

More:
Central Park: the bridal path at 90th Street

Sakura Park aka Riverside Park Cherry Walk in Morningside Heights along the Hudson River

Roosevelt Island Cherry Blossom Festival at Roosevelt Island, last Saturday of April

New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx

Laduree Soho - April 25th, 26th, 27th (photo from Laduree, still on my bucket list!)

May 14, 2013 - Ah! I can't remember where downtown this was..

THE END! Tag me in your photos @patriciachangNY ;D

Jonathan Adler crafted for Fisher Price collection

A few of my favorite Baby things

November 09, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Family

With baby #2 being another boy, we will be able to pass down all of Chase's baby gear! There is one particular item though that I have not tried with Chase and am thrilled to have received from Jonathan Adler's new collaboration with Fisher Price. It's the Rock N' Play Sleeper!

Sure, I haven't tried it yet myself.. HOWEVER I have heard from mom after mom after mom how it has saved their sanity especially in the first 3 months! With Chase, I didn't really know the difference between all the rockers, bouncers and everything in between so we just got the fanciest one at the time - the Mamaroo. I guess all these chairs serve different purposes. Gliders and rocking chairs are great for putting your newborn to sleep, but this Rock N' Play Sleeper seems to remove the adult from the equation. Over ten moms have enthusiastically told me that their baby slept so well in it (this one has vibrations, music and automatic rocking mode), and how convenient it is to move from room to room. The best part of Fisher Price's collaboration with Jonathan Adler is that none of the other styles compare to how chic this version is and it not an eye sore for your home.

A couple things that caught my attention from the collection:

The high chair transforms into a booster seat, which you will need as your baby becomes a toddler.
While unwrapping the mobile, I was really surprised how modern the collection really is - there is a projection screen!

They even designed some beautiful furniture for your nursery:

On that note, here are some of my favorite items I used with Chase that you won't find on your standard baby registry:

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Not only does Chase, but I love Bla Bla Dolls. They are so soft and well made. I also have a GIANT bunny that I use as my pregnancy pillow!

Out of all the stuffed animal storage ideas I've seen, I went with these see through bean bag chairs because they are both neat and functional. I believe you have to see things or they will be forgotten. It's also incredible how many fit in one chair! I think I counted 50 in one of ours.

Maybe it's because I'm Korean, but it's a big deal not to sleep your baby only on the back of their head to prevent a flat head shape.

I don't know that I've been to a new mom's home without this drying lawn. We still use ours for everyday dishes.

Shower cap. Best few dollars I've ever spent! It took Chase a long and patient 3 months to condition him to using it - he would immediately rip it off. But in hindsight the 3 months is a short time considering he is 2.5 years old now. Tip: I found doing it in this order helps. 1. Rub shampoo on baby's hair, 2. Prepare a small bucket of water, 3. Put the hat on, 4. Immediately pour the water on hopefully before baby has a chance to take their hat off. Chase would see the water trickle down the front of the hat and get distracted.

If you live somewhere with winter seasons, like I do in NY, you will be very thankful to have warm muffs. My husband and I fight over being the one to push the stroller so we can put our hands in it!

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I do use the square blankets, but the velcro and zipper swaddles are awesome! Especially when you are re-swaddling them multiple times a day~ I particularly love the "Sleepy Wings" (in the middle) because it doesn't cover their outfit. Like the ones below!

You'll quickly learn that bibs ARE the baby's outfit since they are always wearing one. Here are some I designed and can't wait to put my little one in them!

Chase keeping his little brother's things warm until he arrives~ ;)

Thanks for reading!! Please share with me, what are some of your must haves??

A Day in my NYDJ Maternity Jeans

Botanical Garden

October 25, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Family, Fashion

At 5 months pregnant I may be just starting to "show", but I'm in full swing maternity pants mode! My friends used to notice how I never wear jeans. In my 20's I realized how uncomfortable jeans were and naturally phased them out of my wardrobe. This ALL changed with my first pregnancy with Chase. Discovering maternity jeans was like tasting a donut for the first time. It's a whole new world with the elastic waist band, I honestly wonder why we don't wear them all the time! I wore them for at least a year after birth as it was too hard to let them go just yet.

Working from home, I can get away with pjs all day. But on the weekends, my husband and I like to go out for a little adventure. Here's a day in my NYDJ jeans running after Chase and staying comfy all day long at the Botanical Garden!

Another successful play date with Charlotte and her family filled with lots of hugs!

I learned an awesome trick to fold the bottom of the pants long-ways, and then rolling them up for a more fitted ankle. — I learned an awesome trick to fold the bottom of the pants long-ways, and then rolling them up for a more fitted ankle.

Shop the look:

I like skinny jeans because as you are expanding, it helps give you more polished look. I recommend getting a size smaller than usual as they run a little loose.

You can be casual, put together and playful all in one look - I styled my jeans with a neutral palette as this pregnancy is really making me feel neutrals these days. But I'm always one for a little touch of whimsical!

A taste of Rivington Street

morgenstern's

July 07, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Fashion, Food

My sister and I went to taste Morgenstern's coconut ash flavor ice cream. I was curious since I don't know that I've seen black ice cream before - it's more messy than it is tasty - prepare a napkin, maybe some water to rinse out your teeth and don't forget a mirror to reapply your lips because they will be messed up. I did enjoy the coconut flavor, but I'd probably order another flavor next time! We got some good laughs out of it though (at each other).

As we were heading to Black Seed Bagel for brunch, we got distracted by a shop next door called Leekan Designs - oriental bird cages with blue and white porcelain feeders in the window caught my eye. So we popped in and stayed for about 10-15 mins because there's a lot of things to cover. My sister left with a metal horse necklace charm with turquoise eyes. I'm trying not to be a hoarder anymore so I sadly left the cages at the store. Its always fun to explore and find new gems around town - which is endless here in NY!

I based my outfit around this dress that I was drawn to for it's simplicity with a twist (pun intended). It's more comfortable in person and under $100, which is a win win. I think it would be cute for early pregnancy, though my sister thinks it draws attention to the belly - what do you think? I'm wearing a size M here, and I am 5'5".

Once I wore the dress I was feeling monochrome vibes and opted for a gray bag rather than a pop of color. So I styled it with this mouse bag, which is a classic from my handbag line, but the metallic color is new and coming out any day now! Next, it was a no brainer to pick the shoes - a pair of neutral Josefinas sneakers. This style is also new, but you may recognize the furry pair from the same brand that I wore everyday thus far! Only after I put it altogether did I realize I had a bow-on-bow situation going on~ To keep the "simple" look a bit more interesting, I finished it off with pigtail braids and a rose gold choker for an edgy vibe.

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Photography by Deborah Chang and myself

Oasis in the City: 20 Ways to stay cool this summer

Central Park

July 01, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Family, Fashion, Food

Summer has officially arrived~ It can get very hot and humid here in the city and everyone migrates to the park to laze under some shade. I personally get drained very quickly by the sun so I will grab a sun hat (with a wide brim), shades and layers of SPF before leaving the house. Here are more tricks to help beat the heat!

Wear loose fitting clothes
Wear lighter colors that reflect light, darker colors hold in heat
Wear cotton or linen
Tie your hair so heat doesn't get trapped around your neck
Avoid metallic jewelry
Keep your feet cool - wear breathable shoes
Iced beverage - don't wait to be thirsty to drink, drink every 15 mins
Put an iced bottle to your ankles, wrists, or behind the knees
Chrysanthemum tea lowers body temperature
Avoid caffeine and alcohol which dehydrate you
Avoid soda - your body will find it more difficult to store water
Eat frequent smaller meals instead of a big meal
Enjoy frozen snacks
Eat spicy foods: increases blood circulation and makes you sweat (which will feel cool as it dries)
Avoid meat - increases metabolic heat production (oops, I ate a hot dog)
Stay in the shade - feels 15 degrees cooler
Breathe deep, learn yoga's cooling breathing technique
Splash cool water on yourself - you can also bring a spray bottle
Use a cooling aloe vera aftersun product
Plan ahead: 10am~4pm is the hottest time of day

Stay cool everyone!!

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(#patriciachangbags whale bag coming soon!)

Packing: Beach Essentials for Mom and Toddler

June 28, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Family, Fashion, Food, Travel

My family and I just came back from the beach this weekend with my in-laws down in New Jersey. The water was still too cold for swimming, but the weather was perfect for beach bumming - breezy and not too hot. Now that summer is officially upon us I thought I'd share what I packed and hopefully save you some time & planning!

Let's start with this photo above of Chase's hands covered in sand and baby powder. For those of you who don't know this life hack: Baby Powder helps get sand off instantly! I learned this while packing last week and I'm thrilled to report that it really works. I started calling it "magic powder"! Chase would rub his eyes with his sandy hands which bothered him and all wet wipes did was waste time. I will never go to the beach (or sand box) without it from now on.

Many may brush off the 'First Aid Kit', but we did have a small incident where my husband cut his hand - so at minimum I suggest packing Band-Aids and Neosporin.

Clothing wise, I forgot to pack long sleeves. I just thought 'hot beach hot beach hot beach'. Fortunately my husband was better prepared and I was able to borrow his during the trip. You will likely come across an air conditioned environment or a chilly night time, so it's best to bring a couple layers. Thankfully I managed to pack my toddler a hoodie and long pants which came in handy. While we are on the topic of baby clothes - pack double what you plan to! Their clothes are so small anyway, it doesn't hurt to be prepared for anything.

When we travel with our toddler I always bring a baggie and leave it out within reach. He tends to get nauseous quite easily especially if he just had a meal (he threw up twice on the bus ride home). If you plan on going on a boat or long car ride - you can salvage everyone's clothes and seat by having this and lots of wipes out.

Last note - sun protection. I love the sunblock that you can spray - it's so easy to apply (especially on kids that don't sit still or can't be bothered) and applies much more evenly. Don't forget to cover your ears and feet and reapply every few hours. I also recommend a canopy if you are going with a family instead of lugging multiple umbrellas. Tip: I got Chase to wear his sunhat by telling him he can only play in the sand if he wears it!

Save this Check List - It's a printable image I made just for you!

Napping tip: Chase sleeps best if he eats and drinks after play time. Change them out of their swim diaper and put on normal ones - Chase once got a diaper rash because we didn't know that swim diapers don't breathe. Find or provide shade, then sneak on sunglasses since there are no black out shades on the open beach for a longer nap. Your little one will appreciate a small pillow if you can manage one (I used my spare dress and his small blanket). Now you can really kick back and relax!

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If you're packing food - this chicken wing recipe and corn will be a crowd favorite for both kids and adults! My sister-in-law Linda is an amazing home cook and of course she would find this! From Bonappetit.com, serves 4 - marinade altogether for at least one hour or overnight and grill for 15-20 minutes on medium heat.

4 garlic cloves
1/4 chopped fresh oregano
1/4 chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 cup olive oil
salt, pepper
2 pounds chicken wings

Now have a blast and make lots of memories!! Thanks for reading!

Castle Dreaming

May 23, 2016 by Patricia Chang in Fashion, Food, Travel

During the middle of our Spain trip, we got to sneak away to a romantic Languedoc France. We took the train and as we got closer to Languedoc, the scenery become more tranquil and stunningly serene. The high speed train was so smooth and we whizzed by horses, vineyards and a large lake. It's funny - I think the freshest baguette sandwich I ever had was at a train station during a transfer in France. I had no idea Hank planned a Michelin star lunch so I accidentally spoiled my appetite a bit with 2 of those sandwiches (no regrets). We stayed in a fortified town called Carcassone in the south of France. We stayed at Hotel de la Cite which is the most charming hotel straight out of a medieval fairytale. You step outside the hotel and the basilica is right there. Because the bulk of the people there were tourists, the town felt a bit like Disney World's Epcot except everything is actually authentic. Nonetheless, we admired the church and headed out to edge where we got hit by the wind and soaked in the views. There was something so fresh and exciting about being here with my husband, I was excited to see him in his element during this leg of the trip and spontaneously go out to explore with my "adventure buddy". He was especially excited for our wine tasting tour that took us out to a couple local vineyards and another picturesque town, Minerve. I wish we had taken our time to explore it since it is known as one of the most beautiful towns in France and some of the views reminded me of the Grand Canyon. Because we were with a group and it was unfortunately a bit rushed. During our tour it was my first time trying organic and live wines (In case you are wondering, I am not pregnant yet so it was safe to try the live bottle - which I liked and learned I like "tannin"). Ugh, without a doubt the best part of France was the price of their wine. It's ludicrous how expensive a glass is here in NY compared to their 2.5 euro. A side note: Feeling a bit adventurous I ordered "black pudding" and apple salad - turns out it means "blood sausage"! Being Korean we have something similar so it wasn't bad, but it was definitely not what I anticipated. I think my husband knew what I was ordering and gave me no warning, haha.

Packing wise - cute outfits are fun, but hey I'm on vacation and nothing feels better than stealing my husband's cozy cardigan come the moment to put an outfit on. I noticed I wore the buttons unaligned when I was uploading these photos - a sure sign of a relaxing time~. It's always a good idea to pack a set of comfortable clothes for back up because at the end of the day, you want to feel good and enjoy yourself! Lastly, you're in luck~ I found the embroidered blouse I'm wearing at a market from our last trip to Korea- I typed in "bohemian top" to find something similar since I figured some of you might ask about it- and I found the exact one! (Korean markets often sell wholesale to brands). It happens to fall under both "cute outfit" and "comfortable outfit" so it's a winner! Well, that's the last of our week and a half in Europe - next stop, Paris!